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"You're…you're fucking and ESPADA?!" All Starrk saw was a flash of orange hair disappear, Renji moaned and got up grimacing at the unexpected pain in his back side and chased after the man, in nothing but a bed sheet.

Renji was gone in a flash leaving a bewildered and confused Starrk quite naked and alone in the bed, looking around he quickly put on his clothes and headed to where he felt the two; not wanting to intrude he contented himself with standing close by knowing neither man would notice. He leaned against the wall and found himself soon accompanied by the familiar and annoying flapping of a fan as Urahara sidled up to him and took up the same pose.

"Do you always eavesdrop?" He asked the shopkeeper, who simply giggled.

"Do you espada?"

Starrk shook his head "not usually, but something tells me this could get violent."

Urahara simple waved his hand "it might, but it's nothing those two can't handle, I assume Renji hasn't told you of Ichigo?" Starrks eyebrows shot up; no he hadn't said anything about anyone they simply hadn't had or rather made time. Taking his silence as a yes the blonde continued "I don't want to seem brash Starrk but Renji and Ichigo have been, well, lovers for quite some time."

"Lovers?" Starrk barely got out, just as he was ready to go in there and give the red head a piece of his mind Urahara caught his arm, the man peered up at him from beneath his striped hat.

"That would be a mistake espada, let me finish." He sighed wearily as though even he didn't want to deal with this "those two" he gestured to the room where their rather loud voices were coming from "are friends who happen to have sex. They have never entered in a relationship because they aren't in love. Ichigo is shocked without a doubt but I know for a fact that he will understand once Renji tells him how he feels for you. It's not a lover's relationship but rather friends who physically comfort each other. Is that clearer?"

Starrk frowned and shook his head "so they are friends who have sex but remain friends? That would be like me taking Grimmjow to bed" he made a disgusted face and wrinkled his slightly bumped nose.

"Are you and Grimmjow friends?"

"No, not really but he is the closest thing I had before Renji."

Urahara nodded sagely "I'm not sure you can fully understand their bond then. Ichigo has been through a lot and so has Renji they have very similar common ground and are very much alike. They do love each other as friends do and made the choice to use each other for comfort in their times of need, if you want more details you would need to speak to Renji as I will only divulge so much. All I can say is they understand everyone get's the itch and they chose each other to scratch it." Starrk chewed on his bottom lip, debating what to do. He was hurt that Renji had a lover he hadn't known about and didn't blame the orange headed shinigami for being distraught; at the same time the weird shopkeeper seemed to be hinting that Starrk was more than just a friend to Renji, so was he insinuating the red head felt something deeper for him? He didn't know what to do so he settled it the way he always settled things, leaning against the wall he closed his eyes and found it wasn't long before he was snoring softly. Urahara snapped his fan shut and smiling walked off leaving the three men to figure it out for themselves.

Ichigo was seething, his face was as red as Renji's hair and his normally warm amber eyes were cold and hard; he was in a righteous rage over just having caught his lover in the arms of another man and the primera espada no less! He ground his teeth together in rage at his friend, he knew this would happen eventually but why did it have to be now? He had long ago realized he had no claim on the man but they had said they would tell each other if anything changed or if they had desired new partners and this certainly looked like a change to him. His eyes were shooting daggers at the red head his hand resting on the hilt of zangestsu as he nodded his head and strode toward the underground fighting area Renji hot on heels, both men determined to communicate in the most basic of ways.

Starrk was jerked out of his impromptu slumber when his body jolted with the force of combined reiatsu flaring at dangerous levels, opening his eyes slowly and sleepily rubbing them he felt out for the source of the power and quickly followed it. Lower and lower the stairs wound until he was standing in the middle of what looked like a desert, he felt the strong kido spells surrounding the area and as he scanned it found what he was looking for. Two energies were quite literally wrapped up in each other, lustful, dangerous and somewhat sad his expert senses told him, moving carefully he headed towards the two men. He drank in the sight of his lover, hair down and wild sticking to his neck and shoulders as he moved, his bed sheet he had knotted around his waist ragged and torn, bleeding wounds peppering his smooth skin, his steps nimble and graceful like a cats as he dodged the younger mans attack, always on the defensive never offensive. His eyes jumped to the orange headed teen, his hair was stuck to his forehead, eyes narrowed in concentration, he was pouring his heart and soul into the attacks as if trying to get Renji to understand his hurt and confusion; a small frown knit Starrks brow he could see what the men were doing even if they couldn't and instead of communicating they were doing the exact opposite. He let out a small exhale as there was only one way he could think to stop this and he had growing concern that Ichigo may very well kill him and this could possibly only serve to provoke him further. Steeling himself for what he had to do for the first time without Lilynette he took a breath and squared his normally slumped shoulders.

"Kick about, los lobos" at the incantation he felt his power flare and the familiar comfort of his resurrection unleashed itself. Uncoiling around him he was re wrapped in long pants, fur trimmed coat and armed with two pistols; the two men had stopped fighting and were eyeing him warily as he approached them.

"He's letting you win" Starrk said quietly, taking note of Renji's extensive wounds compared to the lack of Ichigo's. The man's brown eyes flew wide at the statement, Starrk continued "it would seem that what Renji is trying to say by taking this beating, is that he is sorry." Renji's head dropped and Starrk knew he had been correct.

"Why do you care? You know nothing espada, he hasn't even told you anything!" The orange haired man spat out at him in fury.

"He doesn't have to, it's evident he cares for you a great deal and you for him. He is your friend is he not?"

Ichigo wrinkled his nose "he is."

"Then why is seeing him with someone else so upsetting?" Starrk braced himself for the answer and the barb he was sure this young man would deliver, but none came.

Ichigo hung his head and then looked at Renji while he answered "because we are more than friends, and while never in a relationship I had just hoped he would tell me if he found someone." He glanced at Starrk "but he didn't."

"Ichigo" Starrk said as gently as possible "did you ask why?"

Realization dawned in his eyes, and he turned to the bedraggled red head "Renji…"

Smiling slightly the head of red hair lifted and auburn eyes were visible "Ichi" he hardly said above a whisper. "There is so much to tell you, if you would stop trying to kill me for a moment I would like to speak to you about how Starrk and I saved each other's lives."

*i promise there will be smutty goodness next chappie my loves!